Enrollment at the Universities of Wisconsin has shown a modest increase for the second year in a row, with the system reporting a 1.2% rise in enrollment this fall—adding about 1,900 students for a total of 164,431. This slight uptick comes as a positive sign for Wisconsin’s public universities, with eight campuses experiencing growth, including major institutions like UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. However, the broader picture reveals challenges and a complex future for higher education in the state.
Long-Term Enrollment Decline Signals Broader Challenges
The slight increase in enrollment in Fall 2024 comes after more than a decade of steady decline across the Universities of Wisconsin. The chart illustrating enrollment trends from 2010 to 2024 shows a clear downward trajectory, with total headcount decreasing significantly year over year until a small uptick beginning in 2023. This decline reflects the impact of various social and economic factors, from declining birth rates and population shifts to the rising costs of higher education. The lowest point in the graph, seen around 2022, underscores the severity of the situation, where enrollment numbers reached their nadir before a modest recovery in the last two years.
This long-term decline has created new urgency for Wisconsin’s universities to address the causes behind falling numbers. With fewer students available to recruit from traditional high school pipelines and growing competition from trade and technical programs, the university system faces significant pressure to redefine its value proposition. The recent growth is a positive development, but the chart suggests a deep-rooted enrollment challenge that will require sustained efforts to attract and retain students, particularly as demographic trends continue to shift.
University System’s Response and Enrollment Breakdown
Despite these challenges, the Universities of Wisconsin have managed to increase enrollment, in part through targeted outreach and retention programs aimed at highlighting the benefits of a college degree. For Fall 2024, the university system saw the following enrollments at each campus:
– UW-Eau Claire: 10,000
– UW-Green Bay: 11,188
– UW-La Crosse: 10,458
– UW-Madison: 51,791
– UW-Milwaukee: 22,683
– UW Oshkosh: 12,964
– UW-Parkside: 3,947
– UW-Platteville: 6,391
– UW-River Falls: 5,273
– UW-Stevens Point: 8,251
– UW-Stout: 6,914
– UW-Superior: 2,819
– UW–Whitewater: 11,752
However, branch campus enrollment fell sharply by 22% (or 1,092 students), indicating that smaller campuses face even greater challenges in attracting students. The decrease in branch campus enrollments may reflect difficulties in sustaining interest among local populations who are increasingly attracted to trade and technical education.
Looking Forward: The Value of Higher Education in a New Landscape
The Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman emphasized the system’s pride in this second year of enrollment growth, noting that students and parents in Wisconsin still value a college education. As the state navigates demographic shifts, alternative career paths, and cost concerns, the university system’s challenge will be to demonstrate the value of higher education. This may involve rethinking degree offerings, increasing financial support, or creating partnerships with trade programs to appeal to students interested in hybrid education pathways.
